XONE – The 4th Dimension – EPK

XONE (pronounced zône)

XONE is a modern metal band integrating elements of progressive rock, driven by story-oriented lyrics, expressed with a depth of passion, and delivering an eclectic but captivating sound that cuts across all musical borders.


Fans say XONE's influences, which range from Rush, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Evergrey, Pink Floyd, White Zombie, Van Halen, Tool, Dream Theater, Symphony X, Peter Gabriel, The Police, Godsmack, U-2, and more, can be heard in many different aspects of our music. The lyrical styles range from the re-telling of historical events, exploring the dimensions of both inner and outer space, to everyday relationship encounters, which touch a nerve that we can all relate to...

XONE began in summer 2003 when Vocalist/Guitarist Will Austin and Bassist Ted Heming began working together to build the foundations of what is now XONE's distinctive sound. Their common goal was to create a musical environment that transports the listener to a realm all its own. With the addition of Drummer Jason Seger in 2006, XONE continued it's campaign to bring their music to the masses.

XONE released their album “The 4th Dimension” in November 2008.
1. The 4th Dimension
2. Ironheart
3. Beautiful One Day
4. TKO
5. Young Man’s Destiny

The 4th Dimension is currently available for free download on the internet. Fans can hear our music, and see our videos online, anytime. XONE is also recording their next CD “ELEMENTS” currently on Pro Tools/Sonar 7 in their San Pedro Studio overlooking the enormously beautiful Los Angeles Harbor.

Connecting with the listener/audience in a positive way is our goal. Anyone who feels our music is important to us! Some may say we're obsessed (we agree), and some believe that we practice too hard (we sure do), but XONE literally spends hundreds of hours intently practicing and perfecting old favorites, creating new masterpieces, recording new albums, promoting/marketing, and preparing for our next jaw dropping show that will change your life forever.

A New Era In Progressive Metal begins...

Visit XONE On The Internet:

Band Blog & Homepage
http://www.xonelive.com

XONE Album: The 4th Dimension
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=892356

The 4th Dimension - Lyrics and Song Story
1. The 4th Dimension
2. Ironheart
3. Beautiful One Day
4. TKO
5. Young Man's Destiny

See our Video for Beautiful One Day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0EmrIRUvtM

XONE at MySpace
http://www.myspace.com/xone

XONE Free Jams
http://www.myspace.com/xonemusic


XONE would like to hear your Feedback!!
Email us at: prog_metal_xone@hotmail.com
Or leave a Comment at our Blog!

The 4th Dimension - Lyrics

Here are the Lyrics for the XONE CD
The 4th Dimension
in album order.
1. The 4th Dimension
2. Ironheart
3. Beautiful One Day
4. TKO
5. Young Man’s Destiny


The 4th Dimension
Verse 1:
Waking up from a bad dream,
stare out the porthole into the darkness of space.
Spend my shift on the tractor beam,
I'm starting to feel that my life's been a waste.
Every day, it's the same thing,
guiding the ships into each docking bay.
Though my task requires mastery,
ship after ship, my hope's slowly decayed.

Chorus 1:
Where are you from?
Where are you now?
Caught in my own stagnation...

Where will you be?
Where are you bound?
Death is my destination...

Verse 2:
Gone,
Into the dreaming.
Gone,
Into my mind.
Gone,
Into the silence, creeping
and I'm,
Gone,
Into the night.

Chorus 2:
Where are you from?
Where are you now?
Death is my destination...

Where will you be?
Where are you bound?
The stars are my destination...

Verse 3:
The deep space of infinity,
or lost space of my mind.
A sine wave to eternity,
a quantum disturbance in time.

The cold space of insanity,
invading the depths of my mind.
A patchwork of reality,
responding to nothing in kind.

Chorus 3:
Where are you from?
Where are you bound?
The stars are my destination...

Where will you be?
So far from home,
Fell into the 4th Dimension...

Verse 4:
Can't wake up from a bad dream,
staring out into the coldness of space.
Took my hand off the tractor beam,
sending the ships crashing into the Base...

Outro:
Death is my destination...

Fell into the 4th Dimension...

The stars are my destination...

Fell into the 4th Dimension...


Ironheart
Intro:
Old man, will you tell me the story,
Of how our people became free
If I can see it through your eyes
Then I know I can believe,
that what I've heard is true,
it really was you...

Verse A:
My village was strong and we lived off the land
and from these surroundings I grew into a man.
I sought my own fortune, so I took up the sword
and served under Rome against Illyria.

But then Rome sought to tame a leash on our land
They came here to rule us with an iron hand.
Quintilius Varus came to govern my home
and where did this leave me, now that I served Rome.

Transition

Verse B:
(Now) Varus' methods had been tested before,
I've heard it said that Syria can breathe no more.
Economic enslavement was Varus' plan,
Collecting taxes, he became a rich man.

So he levied his tributes among my own kin,
even though I now served under him.
I played along to make him feel that he had my side,
and all the while I was plotting Rome's demise.

I brought him news of Romans killed by the tribes,
refusing to pay any part of his bribes.
So Varus took his Army marching North to the call,
He marched them right into Teutoburger Wald.

Transition:

Chorus A:
We shall drive out the invader
I lead my men into victory's halls
with these blades we shall defend the righteous
we strike to war by the clarion's call.

Chorus B:
For so long my sword's been forsaken
Now it causes Roman blood to flow
Enticing Varus into a nightmare
so that we can strike the final blow.

Verse C:
I will catch them deep in the mountains
where a phalanx can't be deployed
They will soon become overextended
3 Roman Legions will be destroyed.

Ironhearted I burn with vengeance
I cannot let despair take hold
We must strike while we're still able
and Varus must be forced to fall on his sword

Verse D:
I broke with our tactics to give us a chance,
No other peoples' faced Legions and lived to dance
Auxiliary tribesmen led them into the trap
and we sprung it on them with a resounding snap.

We waited until they had come into the bog
and snuck up on them in the midst of the fog
I then sent my cavalry far to their rear,
raiding their supply lines, I stranded them here.

Transition:

Chorus A:
Now we destroy the invader,
piece by piece he is devoured whole.
(Our) war cries echo throughout the night air
No Roman soldier shall know sleep at all.

Chorus B:
By the hour they grow weaker and weaker,
Their retreat is confused and slow
We have captured 2 Roman Standards,
while the third lies in the swamp below.

Verse E:
In the howling wind and hammering rain
we strike the Roman Lines again and again
This continues for three days and then
the Roman Leadership now sees the end

Ironhearted I burn with vengeance
I have let all contempt take hold
One last strike while they're disabled
and Varus is forced to fall on his sword

Outro:
Well Rome wasn't built in one day,
and it won't be destroyed in one either.
but it's presence will slowly decay,
as I ring the death knell of an empire.

so Goths we shall remain,
a people united in name...
all for one in the same.

And this Ironheart once believed
That if Rome could be forced to flee
to the banks of the Rhine on her knees.

That Legion after Legion would fall
Romans and conscripts, et al...
onward to Adrianople...
And this Ironheart still believes…


Beautiful One Day
Verse 1:
One Day is not enough,
to judge what you've seen.
You're in the middle, you're all caught up,
you don't know what to believe.

Remember when you were young,
and saw yourself as the Queen.
Your world wasn't hectic then,
you were still wild and free.

(Bridge)

Chorus 1:
Your energy is beautiful,
contagious as can be.
Why don't you just take a moment,
and taste some with me...

Verse 2:
One day is not enough,
and I know what you've seen.
It's what your reading, it's on your lips,
and it's on the TV.

Staring back from the magazine,
like a victim of an evil regime.
A world of purging behind the scenes,
how can this be healthy?

(Bridge)

Chorus 2:
Confidence is beautiful,
if only you could see.
Why don't you just wait a moment,
and no longer be deceived...




Verse 3:
One view is not enough,
and you're how you should be.
It's in your making, it's in your skin,
and the way that you speak.

I understand the way that you think,
and it makes sense to me.
Like the curve at the small of your back,
and the grace of your being.

Chorus 3:
Inside you are beautiful,
outside for all to see.
Why don't you just stop a moment,
and look at you like me...


TKO
Verse 1:
It's just a question of Evil
and it's not a game.
Merely the question of Evil,
Things were never the same...


Bridge:
Falling
I remember them falling
Falling
I can remember them falling
from the flames...


Chorus 1:
They're gonna saw off your head with a rusty knife,
and it'll take a minute or two for them to take your life.
but you won't be prepared, if you've closed your eyes,
You gotta go for the TKO,
if you want to survive!



Verse 2:
No more a question of Evil,
Just an issue of blame,
Learned the lesson of Evil,
Now things can never be the same....



Rhy Lead:
And this is my answer!
And there is the place.
And I will remember.
Now I know your face.

So this is my answer!
And DEATH is my name.
Now you understand my answer!
Want to ask me again?...


Bridge:
Falling
I remember them falling
Falling
I can remember them falling
from the flames...

Chorus 2:
Cause they're gonna saw off your head with a rusty knife,
and they'll invoke the name of GOD, while they take your life.
and you can't be prepared if you've closed your eyes,
You gotta go for the TKO,
Do you wanna survive!?!


Young Man's Destiny
Verse 1:
From a young age,
he's always been told.
You have to choose,
you're young now,
you got your whole life ahead of you.

Stepping through stages in life,
it takes time to get old.
and I'll find things my own way,
no matter what people say.

Chorus 1:
A young man's destiny,
Calling and haunting me.
From childhood,
to the man that I wish to be.

A young man's destiny,
now he seeks to see.
No longer a child,
but the man that he yearns to be.

Verse 2:
Living in boundaries,
a cage around my soul.
You will suffer,
so that the truth can be known.

Listening to arrogance,
from liars and fools.
Groups are only cowardice,
trying to be cool.

Chorus 2:
A young man's destiny,
Calling and haunting me.
From childhood,
to the man that I wish to be.

A young man's destiny,
now he seeks to see.
No longer a child,
but the man that he yearns to be.


Chorus 3:
A young man's destiny,
Calling and haunting me.
From childhood,
to the man that I wish to be.

A young man's destiny,
how he seeks to see.
No longer a child,
but the man that he yearns to be.

A young man's destiny,
Calling and haunting me.
Of this lost childhood,
and this human disease.

A young man's destiny,
and how he fought to be.
Not only the child,
but the man that you see...



The Mastermind
(Lyrics Coming Dec 2008)

The Fourth Dimension

XONE is proud to release our new album:
The 4th Dimension.
It has taken almost 2 years to release this CD,
but the end result is an album that we are very excited for you to hear!
Our intention is to tell stories and be storytellers.
The 4th Dimension is our first real step in this direction.
We’ve learned a lot about ourselves and our gear along the way, we’ve had to re-record all of the Bass ourselves, but we’ve allowed the Vocals to lead the way with this new album.
We hope you will engage yourself into the unique stories told by each of the songs from the album,
and process their subject matter internally in a positive way.
Fall into The 4th Dimension…


XONE
The 4th Dimension (2008)
1. The 4th Dimension
2. Ironheart
3. Beautiful One Day
4. TKO
5. Young Man’s Destiny

6. The Mastermind
(15min epic-almost completed-to be released in Dec 2008)


Lyrics - Click Here

*The 4th Dimension is being released directly on the Internet
and is available now for FREE DOWNLOAD!!

Click the FREE DOWNLOAD link for each song
and get/hear the new album from XONE

Watch our video for: Beautiful One Day
(click "watch in high quality, in blue, bottom right of video window)

and let us know what you think by leaving a comment at any of our sites.

Young Man's Destiny

The fifth song on the new XONE CD The 4th Dimension,
explains that it’s not easy growing up from a boy to a man.
It’s every young boy’s dream to grow into a great man.
It’s getting there that can be difficult.
This is the Young Man’s Destiny…


Young Man’s Destiny
(Lyrics)

Verse 1:
From a young age,
he's always been told.
You have to choose,
you're young now,
you got your whole life ahead of you.

Stepping through stages in life,
it takes time to get old.
and I'll find things my own way,
no matter what people say.

Chorus 1:
A young man's destiny,
Calling and haunting me.
From childhood,
to the man that I wish to be.

A young man's destiny,
now he seeks to see.
No longer a child,
but the man that he yearns to be.

Verse 2:
Living in boundaries,
a cage around my soul.
You will suffer,
so that the truth can be known.

Listening to arrogance,
from liars and fools.
Groups are only cowardice,
trying to be cool.

Chorus 2:
A young man's destiny,
Calling and haunting me.
From childhood,
to the man that I wish to be.

A young man's destiny,
now he seeks to see.
No longer a child,
but the man that he yearns to be.


Chorus 3:
A young man's destiny,
Calling and haunting me.
From childhood,
to the man that I wish to be.

A young man's destiny,
how he seeks to see.
No longer a child,
but the man that he yearns to be.

A young man's destiny,
Calling and haunting me.
Of this lost childhood,
and this human disease.

A young man's destiny,
and how he fought to be.
Not only the child,
but the man that you see...

TKO

The fourth song on our new XONE CD The 4th Dimension
is the song: TKO.
This song is a direct attack on the worldwide Al-Quaeda terrorist organization. This song asks listeners to remember images of victims jumping from the Twin Towers to their deaths to escape the flames. The song also reminds us of the execution of Nick Berg, a young American Jew who went to Iraq to help. We must remind ourselves of how we would be treated in a world controlled by Muslim Extremists.


The images of those people jumping to escape the burning heat of the flames, is a harrowing memory. I will never forget seeing them. I will never soothe the rage in my heart over that day. I also will never forget the murder of Nick Berg. I watched the full length video, where for a minute and a half, Al-Quaeda lieutenant al-Zarqawi saws off Nick Berg’s head slowly while his followers hold Nick down and chant “Allahu Ahkbar!” (God is Great!) as Nicks life is extinguished. This is exactly the treatment that Muslim Extremists have in mind for US Citizens, Westerners, and all Jews, should Muslim Extremists ever gain control of the Middle East or worse, the entire world.
We should never forget that.

I urge you to watch the whole Nick Berg execution video for yourself and then make your own decision as to how far you are willing to go to destroy this threat.

The middle section of the song details the reality that has existed throughout time, whenever dealing with the consequences for a small faction (like Al-Quaeda) who punches the giant (USA) in the nose. When it has happened before in history, the larger entity (Egypt, Rome, Russia, etc…) usually ended up destroying/killing a large population of folks who looked just like the persons who initially attacked them.
It’s almost an inevitability of mankind.

Did Osama Bin Laden think that mankind had changed that much?
He had to know, that by attacking us on 9/11, he had just sentenced large groups of his own people to death in the meat grinder of the modern war machine. Large world powers have no choice but to retaliate one hundred-fold. It has always been that way. No modern, progressive thinking has changed that. And so the meat grinder would be set up in their land, not in ours, of course. Just like the rest of history.

And their minions continue to pour into it,
believing they are fighting a Jihad (holy war) against the infidel,
all the while dying for nothing, feeding the latest large civilization’s
jaws of retribution.
So while the inevitability of the war goes on,
do not forget what Muslim Extremists have planned for you
and your family. They are medieval people.
Don’t pull any punches.
You gotta go for the TKO!

TKO
(Lyrics)

Verse 1:
It's just a question of Evil
and it's not a game.
Merely the question of Evil,
Things were never the same...


Bridge:
Falling
I remember them falling
Falling
I can remember them falling
from the flames...


Chorus 1:
They're gonna saw off your head with a rusty knife,
and it'll take a minute or two for them to take your life.
but you won't be prepared, if you've closed your eyes,
You gotta go for the TKO,
if you want to survive!



Verse 2:
No more a question of Evil,
Just an issue of blame,
Learned the lesson of Evil,
Now things can never be the same....



Rhy Lead:
And this is my answer!
And there is the place.
And I will remember.
Now I know your face.

So this is my answer!
And DEATH is my name.
Now you understand my answer!
Want to ask me again?...


Bridge:
Falling
I remember them falling
Falling
I can remember them falling
from the flames...

Chorus 2:
Cause they're gonna saw off your head with a rusty knife,
and they'll invoke the name of GOD, while they take your life.
and you can't be prepared if you've closed your eyes,
You gotta go for the TKO,
Do you wanna survive!?!

Beautiful One Day

The third track on our new XONE CD The 4th Dimension
Is the song “Beautiful One Day”.
We wrote this song is for all the women in the world,
In reference to how they look at their own bodies.
Next time you look at yourself in the mirror, ladies,
Look at you like me…


XONE has always been fascinated and a little bit horrified about how women are portrayed in the media. From the time they are young girls reading things like Cosmo Girl or watching shows like America’s Next Top Model, they are bombarded with the idea that they must be thin, their hair and makeup must be perfect, and they that they should look like the idealized version of female perfection – the Barbie doll. This of course is anatomically impossible in the first place.

XONE felt that the world needed to hear that this image of female portrayal is horribly wrong and despite what the popular media sources would have you believe, men aren’t attracted to popsicle women who look like an Auschwitz victim. Additionally, we felt that we needed to branch out and tackle some song content that wasn’t either a historical account or a science fiction theme. We felt that this would be might be our version of a metal "love song".

The writing process for this song began with this idea of wanting to let women know that not everyone agrees with the popular media stereotyped image of them, and this evolved once Will brought the music from one of his old songs into the mix. From there, we began discussing the types of things that did make a woman beautiful, things like their presence, charisma, confidence, intelligence, wit, and natural charm. Many of these themes resonate strongly within the chorus parts, “your energy is beautiful, contagious as can be…” and “confidence is beautiful…” Other themes such as the implication that these media moguls are actually destroying their bodies are reflected in the verse areas such as “staring back from the magazine, like a victim of an evil regime, a world of purging behind the scenes…”

Admittedly, what Beautiful One Day ended up being was not a love song at all, but more of a call to arms for women to stand up and be in charge of their own bodies. This reasoning is reflected in the line "why don't you just stop a moment, and look at you like me...". What this means is that we actually all have the potential to see each other as beautiful and that if women could look at themselves from their lovers and best friend's eyes they would see that they really are beautiful already and don't need "fixing".

We’d like to hear from you about what you feel “Beautiful One Day” means to you. Leave your comment and be heard. Thanks!

Beautiful One Day
(Lyrics)

Verse 1:
One Day is not enough,
to judge what you've seen.
You're in the middle, you're all caught up,
you don't know what to believe.

Remember when you were young,
and saw yourself as the Queen.
Your world wasn't hectic then,
you were still wild and free.

(Bridge)

Chorus 1:
Your energy is beautiful,
contagious as can be.
Why don't you just take a moment,
and taste some with me...

Verse 2:
One day is not enough,
and I know what you've seen.
It's what your reading, it's on your lips,
and it's on the TV.

Staring back from the magazine,
like a victim of an evil regime.
A world of purging behind the scenes,
how can this be healthy?

(Bridge)

Chorus 2:
Confidence is beautiful,
if only you could see.
Why don't you just wait a moment,
and no longer be deceived...




Verse 3:
One view is not enough,
and you're how you should be.
It's in your making, it's in your skin,
and the way that you speak.

I understand the way that you think,
and it makes sense to me.
Like the curve at the small of your back,
and the grace of your being.

Chorus 3:
Inside you are beautiful,
outside for all to see.
Why don't you just stop a moment,
and look at you like me...

Ironheart

The second track on our new XONE CD “The 4th Dimension”,
is the epic story Ironheart. This is the true story of the first time that a people oppressed by Rome, fought back and won! In 9 AD, Germanic Goths under the command of a former Roman Auxiliary Arminius (Hermann the German) routed 3 Roman Legions under the Command of Quinctilius Varus at Teutoburger Wald near modern day Detmold, Germany.

In 9 AD, the Roman Empire had pushed its northern border to the Rhine River, and Rome was attempting to push it North to the Elbe River. Standing right in the way of this were a bunch of loose knit tribes
Inhabiting the Teutoburger Forest. The Romans would conquer an area and immediately tax the people living there to subjugate the inhabitants to Roman rule. It was a model that worked.

To subjugate The Teutoburger Forest tribes, Publius Quinctilius Varus was assigned Governor of the area. Varus had earned his reputation governing Syria, where he bled the land and people dry with heavy taxes,
filling his own pockets along the way from the revenues. He came to Germania with the same idea in mind and instituted his will harshly.

Working as a auxiliary Commander and Aide to Varus was Arminius, a young native german who had served in Rome’s Auxiliary fighting insurrection in Illyria (Bosnia). He had returned home to work with the Roman government. What he witnessed was his people completely subjugated to Varus’ taxes and Rome’s will.

Arminius, also known as Hermann the German, decided to lead a rebellion against Varus and his Legions. He united the Forest tribes with his own Cherusci Tribe, and planned the destruction of Rome in his land.
Since Arminius was trusted by Varus, Arminius was able to lead Varus into a trap. Arminius reported to Varus that tax collectors in some of the villages had been killed. Varus ordered his 3 Legions to follow him into the Teutoburger Wald. Once inside the forest, and cut off from his base and supplies, Varus was in a bad situation.

Arminius’ Germans attacked Varus in a bog, and terrorized the Romans using hit and run tactics. The Roman Legions were a hard bunch of soldiers, but they were outnumbered. Arminius sent his cavalry to Varus rearguard to completely cut off all Roman communication and supply.
After three days, of continued, sporadic attacks by the Germans, the Romans realized how grim their situation was. 3 Roman Standards had been lost, two captured by the Germans and one that fell into the bog, and was never seen again. The Roman Standard was a holy symbol to Roman soldiers, and the loss of three had a definite morale effect on the dwindling number of remaining troops holding out. Varus and his commanders accepted their hopeless position, and each fell on their swords rather than be taken alive.

Some had tried to rebel against Rome and failed. The Jews at Masada, the Egyptians had both lost. Even Arminus had helped defeat rebellion in Illyria. But in his homeland, Arminius had dealt the first blow in a long line of changing fortunes for Rome. His destruction of three Legions was felt in Rome, and its echo was felt over the next 300+ years, culminating in the Visigoth defeat of Rome at the Battle of Adrianople in 379 A.D.

Our story begins, as an old, battle-weary Arminus tells his tale to a young Cherusci boy, so that the story may live on…

Ironheart
(Lyrics)

Intro:
Old man, will you tell me the story,
Of how our people became free
If I can see it through your eyes
Then I know I can believe,
that what I've heard is true,
it really was you...

Verse A:
My village was strong and we lived off the land
and from these surroundings I grew into a man.
I sought my own fortune, so I took up the sword
and served under Rome against Illyria.

But then Rome sought to tame a leash on our land
They came here to rule us with an iron hand.
Quintilius Varus came to govern my home
and where did this leave me, now that I served Rome.

Transition

Verse B:
(Now) Varus' methods had been tested before,
I've heard it said that Syria can breathe no more.
Economic enslavement was Varus' plan,
Collecting taxes, he became a rich man.

So he levied his tributes among my own kin,
even though I now served under him.
I played along to make him feel that he had my side,
and all the while I was plotting Rome's demise.

I brought him news of Romans killed by the tribes,
refusing to pay any part of his bribes.
So Varus took his Army marching North to the call,
He marched them right into Teutoburger Wald.

Transition:

Chorus A:
We shall drive out the invader
I lead my men into victory's halls
with these blades we shall defend the righteous
we strike to war by the clarion's call.

Chorus B:
For so long my sword's been forsaken
Now it causes Roman blood to flow
Enticing Varus into a nightmare
so that we can strike the final blow.

Verse C:
I will catch them deep in the mountains
where a phalanx can't be deployed
They will soon become overextended
3 Roman Legions will be destroyed.

Ironhearted I burn with vengeance
I cannot let despair take hold
We must strike while we're still able
and Varus must be forced to fall on his sword

Verse D:
I broke with our tactics to give us a chance,
No other peoples' faced Legions and lived to dance
Auxiliary tribesmen led them into the trap
and we sprung it on them with a resounding snap.

We waited until they had come into the bog
and snuck up on them in the midst of the fog
I then sent my cavalry far to their rear,
raiding their supply lines, I stranded them here.

Transition:

Chorus A:
Now we destroy the invader,
piece by piece he is devoured whole.
(Our) war cries echo throughout the night air
No Roman soldier shall know sleep at all.

Chorus B:
By the hour they grow weaker and weaker,
Their retreat is confused and slow
We have captured 2 Roman Standards,
while the third lies in the swamp below.

Verse E:
In the howling wind and hammering rain
we strike the Roman Lines again and again
This continues for three days and then
the Roman Leadership now sees the end

Ironhearted I burn with vengeance
I have let all contempt take hold
One last strike while they're disabled
and Varus is forced to fall on his sword

Outro:
Well Rome wasn't built in one day,
and it won't be destroyed in one either.
but it's presence will slowly decay,
as I ring the death knell of an empire.

so Goths we shall remain,
a people united in name...
all for one in the same.

And this Ironheart once believed
That if Rome could be forced to flee
to the banks of the Rhine on her knees.

That Legion after Legion would fall
Romans and conscripts, et al...
onward to Adrianople...
And this Ironheart still believes…

4th Dimension (Title Track)

The title track of the new XONE CD is “The 4th Dimension”.
It is the story of a man losing his mind in Outer Space,
and going over the Edge of Insanity…

This is a story set in the future, where a young man dreams of seeing the Universe. So, he takes a job running the Tractor Beam at a large Space Station in the Outer Rim, far from Earth. Day in and day out, he clocks his shift on the tractor beam, loading the ships into the Cargo Bays of the Space Station.

Forty years pass, and the old man now realizes that he never saw the Universe. He stayed in one place, on that Space Station, watching everyone else come and go for all those lost years. He grows despondent over his misfortune. Slowly, his mind drifts into insanity. He is lost.

Later, while on shift on the Tractor Beam, the man stares out into space as the hours of his shift creep by like quicksand, taking him down, into the recesses of his mind. Momentarily his hand comes off the Tractor Beam Controls, sending the ships crashing into the Base, and causing a chain reaction explosion that destroys the entire Space Station…

Planetary Terrafarmer children, at play on the Planet below, watch in awe as the Station explodes into infinity in the Sky above…

The 4th Dimension
XONE
(Lyrics)

Verse 1:
Waking up from a bad dream,
stare out the porthole into the darkness of space.
Spend my shift on the tractor beam,
I'm starting to feel that my life's been a waste.
Every day, it's the same thing,
guiding the ships into each docking bay.
Though my task requires mastery,
ship after ship, my hope's slowly decayed.

Chorus 1:
Where are you from?
Where are you now?
Caught in my own stagnation...

Where will you be?
Where are you bound?
Death is my destination...

Verse 2:
Gone,
Into the dreaming.
Gone,
Into my mind.
Gone,
Into the silence, creeping
and I'm,
Gone,
Into the night.

Chorus 2:
Where are you from?
Where are you now?
Death is my destination...

Where will you be?
Where are you bound?
The stars are my destination...

Verse 3:
The deep space of infinity,
or lost space of my mind.
A sine wave to eternity,
a quantum disturbance in time.

The cold space of insanity,
invading the depths of my mind.
A patchwork of reality,
responding to nothing in kind.

Chorus 3:
Where are you from?
Where are you bound?
The stars are my destination...

Where will you be?
So far from home,
Fell into the 4th Dimension...

Verse 4:
Can't wake up from a bad dream,
staring out into the coldness of space.
Took my hand off the tractor beam,
sending the ships crashing into the Base...

Outro:
Death is my destination...

Fell into the 4th Dimension...

The stars are my destination...

Fell into the 4th Dimension...

The 4th Dimension

XONE is proud to release our new album:
The 4th Dimension.
The process was long, but the end result is an album that we are all very excited for you to hear! We hope you will engage yourself into the unique stories told by each of the songs from the album,
and process their subject matter internally in a positive way.
Fall into The 4th Dimension…


XONE
The 4th Dimension (2008)
1. The 4th Dimension
2. Ironheart
3. Beautiful One Day
4. TKO
5. Young Man’s Destiny

6. The Mastermind
(15min epic-almost completed-to be released in Dec 2008)


How can you fall into The 4th Dimension,
and what does this mean to release this album?

Well, in today’s internet-connected world,
where music is streamed and downloaded
right into one’s home, the hard copy CD is less important
than music available directly on the internet.
Because of this new standard:

The 4th Dimension is being released directly on the Internet
and is available now for FREE DOWNLOAD!!

Click the FREE DOWNLOAD link
and get/hear the new album from XONE

and let us know what you think by leaving a comment at our
YouTube Video Channel or MySpace…

The Vetta-POD X3 Connection

The Line 6 Vetta and the Line 6 POD X3 provide comparable rigs for those guitarists who want a huge palette of tones within reach, at an economical price. The Vetta has been my mainstay amp with XONE for the last 5 years, and I love it. But for those ready to jump in now, with Line 6’s modeling, the POD X3 is the latest, greatest product from the Chatsworth, California company.

I still love and use my Vetta HD weekly, so there’s no reason for me to buy a POD X3. But If I was in the market for a new rig, then the POD X3 would be at the top of my list. Combined with a good power amp and a quality 4x12 cabinet, the POD X3 Live would provide a guitarist with an immense store-bank of tones and sounds that can change in a millisecond to polar opposites. That may sound quite technical,
and that’s because the POD X3 is complex and technical.

If you don’t intend to tweak unique, original patches yourself, then this unit that features two completely separate signal paths won’t do you any good. Each signal is independent of the other and can be effected in any way by the user. From Boutique amp models, to classic Post-Effects, POD X3 users can create a myriad of new tones for their music needs.

The Vetta can’t do 2 separate signal chains at once, but rather pushes both amp channel signals through a combined Post Effects chain, where modulation, delay, and reverb use the same variables for each amp signal. If I just lost you, then maybe buy a Marshall or some Boutique Dream Amp, which has 2-3 excellent tones, and doesn’t require much tweaking.

But if all this made sense to you and you’re considering the POD X3,
then “Go For It”!! I recently have been helping a friend learn how to use his POD X3 Live. While I am having to learn a new interface, the concepts are very similar to the Vetta, so we are getting somewhere quick.

One thing is for sure, the POD X3 sounds excellent!!!

The Evergrey XONE continues

While listening to Evergrey's "Fear" from the new album Torn last week, my friend(who isn't a metal listener) turns to me and says, "why do you listen to such depressing, angry music? I don't really see you as being that kind of person."

This is a great insight and a question I've often asked myself. Almost all metal music deals with intense emotions and almost none more intensely so than Evergrey. I still remember my mother disparaging the angry, hate filled lyrics of Metallica and many of my other favorite metal bands when I was younger.

So what is it about Evergrey's dealing of emotion charged content such as fear, anger, resentment, self-hate, and depression that makes me so darned happy?

For me, I believe it is the honesty of these intense and passionate lyrics delivered among the backdrop of dark and synergistic grinding guitars, thumping kick, and driving bass lines that sells me most on the truth delivered by Evergrey's latest album. Of course none of this is entirely new for Evergrey, however, the latest album seems more refined and at the same time more honest.

My favorite lyrics are from "Fear" in the chorus where like a litany Thom lists off his fears and during the bridge/pre-chorus where he declares "if he could he'd let himself know he's okay". Listening to Torn has brought me to really question the truth of my own darker emotions and really examine the impact they have on my life. Listening to this album has helped me come to understand the positive impacts of many of the negative emotions that I feel and have felt over the years.

Given the current state of fear mongering that I am hearing everyday from average people afraid of losing their retirement savings, their house, and their job I think it is especially important not to deny ourselves the right to be afraid, angry, self-deprecating, or lost and alone. Acknowledging these feelings allows us to begin on the road to healing and taking positive actions, whereas denying and invalidating our feelings leads to more internal conflict and denial.

Remember, the absence of fear is not courage but simply denial. Courage is the ability to strive towards our dreams inspite of our fears.

The Vetta XONE Continues

Where would I be without my Vetta? I would be immersed in a land of 2-3 tones. I just need more than that. The Line 6 Vetta delivers a huge palette of tones, and with the two amps at once feature, I’m able to blend two amp models to make a unique original tone each time. The applications are almost endless. Especially in XONE.

While there are many awesome tube amps out on the market, and most of the ones you’d want cost a fistful of cash. It’s great if you can afford that. I cannot. Yet. I need an almost limitless palette of tones for XONE’s music. The only way I can afford this type of device, is with the Line 6 Vetta. In 2003, I walked out of Guitar Center with a Line 6 Vetta HD (head) and an FBV Longboard Foot Controller for $2000. It’s still the best investment I’ve ever made with my tone.

Before Line 6, I swore by Marshall.
I have to admit that some of the Marshall models in the Vetta really give that Marshall tone that I like.
The ’85 Marshall Silver Jubilee, ’92 Marshall JCM 900, and ’68 Jumpered Marshall Super Lead really stand out in the Vetta for hi-Gain tones. Mixing any of those with the Line 6 Original Spinal Puppet model,
And I get a really rich Marshally tone. The Spinal Puppet is basically a hot-rodded Marshall head, so it brings out that rich Marshally tone when mixed with a Marshall model.

Typically, use the Marshall model as the Main amp in the patch,
Lows and low-mids, with the Channel Volume at 100% (all the way up),
The Spinal Puppet covers the high-mids, highs at 50% (12o’clock).
Sounds really awesome to my ears!

More Evergrey XONE

Evergrey’s latest CD TORN pushes the limits of Progressive Power Metal to their newest extreme! The CD is a complete musical journey that takes time to fully digest. I have been listening it exclusively since it’s release.
I’m not listening to anything else for a while…It’s that great of a CD.


Evergrey has really been a huge influence on XONE. Evergrey’s music has influenced a few XONE songs and parts of XONE songs. Our latest song “Young Man’s Destiny” is an example of this. The whole song’s impetus came from our love of a few Evergrey songs such as “I’m Sorry” and “Blinded”. Every Evergrey song we’ve ever listened to has influenced us to write new material.

That is not to say that we TRY to make Evergrey-like songs.
We write a new song, and then reflect on it, and find that it was influenced by some artist we listened to recently. Most of our newest material has been influenced by Evergrey.
Our next 2 CDs will feature these songs.

If you haven’t already bought Evergrey’s latest CD TORN,
You are missing out on something huge. It is an amazing album!
The rhythmns are layered and complex.
The Guitar solos are melodic an poignant.
Best of all, the CD is Evergrey at their BEST!!!

The Evergrey XONE

Evergrey is undoubtedly my favorite band in the world. I anticipate their CD releases like a kid waiting for Christmas. I spent this summer waiting for Evergrey to release their latest CD TORN. It was a torturous wait, but well worth it. Evergrey’s new CD TORN is AWESOME!!!

I’ve spent every day since Sept 23, 2008 (TORN’s US Release Date) listening to this CD. It has been the same as every time Evergrey has released an album. It was that way in 2006 when they released Monday Morning Apocalypse.

The first time you listen to a new Evergrey CD, you always react to it like: “what the heck was that!?!”, hearing something that doesn’t necessarly sound brilliant.

Then the second time you listen to it, you react like: OK, I kind of understand what they’re doing here…”, hearing a little bit of the musical feel.

But the third time you listen to it, that new Evergrey CD changes your life!! You hear everything they are doing, catch the complex vibe, and fall in love with at least one song to start.

Then you begin to devour the entire CD slowly, as you listen to the songs more and more intently, following the lyrics, and being struck by how powerful ALL of the CD really is. Usually, all I listen to for the next 3 months is their latest CD. Period.

Evergrey’s albums are intense emotional, musical journeys that must be completely compartmentalized by the listener. By the time you are ready to move to another band recording, you have completely exhausted every single millimeter of the entire CD.

Like a fine wine. Evergrey is not LOVED on the first sip,
nor understood on the second,
but rather, AWAKENS YOUR ENTIRE SOUL on the third listen.


“…my Broken Wings can’t take me, through the Dark of Day…”
(Broken Wings-Evergrey-2008)

Vetta Channel Volume XONE

I recently began setting the Amp Model Channel Volume on my Vetta HD to 100%, and I’ve felt a major improvement in the sound of the models overall. The Vetta already sounded excellent to my ears. This new tweak has pushed it over the top!! The tone of XONE just got better...

I wish I could play with my Vetta HD(v2.5) every day.
Unfortunately it's only twice a week for XONE,
with the occasional Sunday Afternoon thrown in,
and some home, direct recording.
I tweak my Vetta HD with Line 6 Edit Software on a Laptop
connected by an M-Audio Uno cable to my Vetta,
17 feet across the room to really hear what my
Marshall 4x12 is projecting.

I make only Blended patches in my Vetta HD (v2.5)
at LIVE volume (95+db). (Amps panned to Center)
Both Amp 2 & 1 have a different Channel volume.
One amp model (Amp 2) usually carries the majority of the patch,
and thus has a higher Channel Volume.
When I first bought my Vetta in 2003,
I set my Amp 2 Channel volume to 50% (12 o'clock)
Amp 1 was somewhere around 25% (9 O'clock)

(I'm using percents because I tweak in Line 6 Edit
which has values denoted by percentage, 0-100%.
I’ll throw the clock face value in for amp knob tweakers)

I quickly changed my Channel volumes to
Amp 2 = 83% (3 o'clock)
Amp 1 = 40-60% (11 - 1 o'clock)
I have used these main setting since then.

This week, I tested out using Amp 2 = 100%
or "11" for you Nigel Tufnels out there
and Amp 1 = 50-85%

After testing this extensively, I am hearing that the Amp model at 100% has more balls, tubiness, mojo, etc... to it.

I know that in OS v1 Vetta, the Volume knob worked
in concert, with the Drive knob.
I also remember, that all changed with OS v2 Vetta.
I never worried about pushing the channel volume after v2.
I liked having some headroom,
and I use the COMP Gain to balance patch levels.

After making quite a few new patches last week,
and updating some “Tried And True” patches in my Vetta,
I believe that the Vetta's amp models,
when pushed to a 100% channel volume,
sound better to my ears.

I did have to lower my COMP Gain settings by 4db to compensate
for the overall patch Volume increase.
(I run the COMP at a Ratio of 1:0:1,
and use it to equalize my patch volumes).

I have been tweaking the 100% way now for the last 2 months,
and I still think that the amp has more
BALLS, MOJO, LIFE, TUBINESS…
with the Channel volume at 100%
for at least 1 amp model. (Remember, I blend 2 amps)

I’ve already re-tweaked all my old XONE patches
to this new Standard.
And I’m recording these tones right now,
as I finish the guitar parts for our 15 minute epic:
The Mastermind.
All of the patches for Mastermind are re-tweaked
and sounding better than ever.

Try it yourself with your patches,
and see if you feel the same way as I…

(The Mastermind is featured on our upcoming CD: The 4th Dimension)

XONE Studio Video

For the last 2 years, we have been working on our CD:
The 4th Dimension.
During the actual recording of the CD, we took over 9 hours of video.
The result of all this is our new music video: Beautiful One Day!!

Hopefully, the video shows that we
don't take ourselves too seriously.
The song was mixed in Sonar 7 PE.
The video includes ans un-mastered mix of the song.

We hope you like our latest video,
And we’re excited to tell you that we are already at work
on 4 more videos for the next CD: ELEMENTS.
It was shot in Mini-DV,
and was edited in Imovie and Sony Vegas.
Let us know what you think!

prog_metal_xone@hotmail.com

The Free Jam XONE

Free Jamming is an important part of the XONE experience.
It is a no-holds-barred arena to experiment, and create new soundscapes at 112db. Creating a spontaneous musical trance at that volume is a special thing, especially when you start cold at the beginning.


Well, XONE is cranking along here, finishing the Mastering of our upcoming CD: The 4th Dimension, so we’ve posted some new MP3s of some Free Jams that we did last year. We like to Free Jam to start rehearsal to loosen up before we get into working on our original songs. One of us will usually start the Jam and the others play to that. We definitely have gotten some great new musical ideas from our Free Jams. It is a lot of fun and we’ve been known to drag it on for 30 minutes or more. I (Will) definitely use the opportunity to try out new effects on my Line 6 Vetta HD (v2.5). Ted does the same with his Bass POD XT Pro. Jason cranks out tribal warfare with his Yamaha Kit! It is an essential part of being XONE!

You can hear these 2007 Free Jams at:
http://www.myspace.com/xonemusic

Let us know what you think!